‘Still the best groupie, still got it,’ said Sandra. ‘I always give the best head.’

Poppy backed off, feeling, for the first time in her life, totally out of her depth. What was her party turning into? And why was Damian being such a dickhead?

As she stumbled away from the kitchen, Jack appeared through the crowds of people in her flat, most of whom she didn’t know. He smiled his sweet smile at her.

‘You OK?’

‘Yeah, fine, thanks.’ Her eyes were shining with unshed tears. ‘Sorry about my husband.’

‘No worries. Would some charlie make you feel better?’

‘God, yeah. Thanks.’ Poppy really did feel like crying. It was all too fucking weird, and she thought she could handle weird. ‘I s’pose my bedroom is the best place, if we want a bit of privacy …’

But when they opened the bedroom door, they saw Marty and Ellie shagging each other’s brains out on the floor the other side of Poppy and Damian’s bed.

‘Oh, Martypoos, fill me up!’

‘Oh, Elliekins, I wanna feel your sweet pussy all around me …’

Poppy shut the door quickly, bending over as she was laughing so much that she could hardly breathe. It seemed that the reintroduction to Lars had perked up Marty and Ellie’s sex life so much that they couldn’t even wait to get home any more. When she looked up, Jack was laughing fit to bust too.

‘OK, plan B. Come to the loo with me.’

‘Loo? I love your accent. OK, cool Brit girl, I’ll follow you to the loooooo.’

They had a line each on top of the cistern, then sat down on the floor.

‘You really are the prettiest and coolest girl I’ve met in a long time,’ said Jack, bending his curly head to kiss her.

Is this really happening? Poppy thought. Then she came to her senses and backed away.

‘Thank you so much, I’m really, really flattered, but I’ve only been married to Damian for a few months and I do love him, you know. He’s just going through a bad time with work and stuff.’

Jack Meadows, man of a million women’s fantasies, stared at her for nearly a minute, then started laughing.

‘You know, I think that’s the first time anybody’s said no to me in years. I’m sorry, I don’t want to come between man and wife. But he has been an asshole tonight. Friends?’ He held out his hand and Poppy shook it. Then, as was her wont, she gave him a hug.

‘Thanks for being one of the nicest men here tonight, groovy film star or not …’

‘Groovy?’ Jack laughed. ‘They still say that in the UK?’

The door swung open.

‘WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING WITH MY WIFE?’ Damian’s aggressive fist was restrained by Lars, who was standing right behind him. The rest of the party was looking on, agog.

Poppy got up and said, ‘He’s being a lot nicer to me than you have all night. Thanks, Lars.’